Pakistan to Host Second Minerals Investment Forum as Global Demand for Critical Minerals Surges

Islamabad to pitch $6 trillion mineral wealth at PMIF26 on Nov 12-13; PM, top military leadership, Barrick, Ivanhoe chiefs to attend

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan will host the second edition of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF26) on November 12-13 at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad, positioning the country as an emerging destination for critical minerals investment amid global energy transition.

The two-day forum, themed “Pakistan: The Next Critical Minerals Destination,” is organized by the Government of Pakistan and endorsed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), with state-run Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as its founding partner.

*THE BASICS: WHAT, WHEN, WHERE*

According to official event information, PMIF26 will run from Thursday, November 12 to Friday, November 13, 2026. Registration is open via the LUP event platform, with delegate passes priced at $100 and exhibition visitor passes at $20. Attendees are required to provide full name, mobile number, and email address.

The forum aims to bring together policymakers, local and international mining executives, investors, financial institutions, and technical experts to explore investment opportunities across Pakistan’s mineral value chain, from exploration to downstream processing.

*CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND*

Pakistan holds an estimated $6 trillion in mineral reserves, including one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits at Reko Diq in Balochistan, the world’s second-largest salt reserves at Khewra, 175 billion tonnes of lignite coal in Thar, and significant deposits of chromite, marble, and iron ore. Recent geological surveys have also indicated prospects for lithium and rare earth elements.

The inaugural edition, PMIF25, held earlier this year, drew 5,000 delegates from over 50 countries and resulted in 16 memoranda of understanding and agreements, alongside 18 panel discussions, according to organizers.

PMIF26 comes as demand for critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earths is projected to triple by 2030, driven by electric vehicles, semiconductors, and renewable energy infrastructure.

*AGENDA: SIX PILLARS*

Organizers said the forum will focus on six key themes:

1. *Critical Minerals and the Modern Economy:* Pakistan’s role in global supply chains.
2. *Flagship Projects and Bankable Opportunities:* Including Reko Diq and other licensed blocks.
3. *Policy, Regulation and Fiscal Clarity:* Harmonization of federal and provincial frameworks and investor protection under SIFC facilitation.
4. *ESG, Governance and Community Impact:* Sustainable mining and social license to operate.
5. *Local Value Addition and Downstream Industries:* Moving from raw ore exports to in-country smelting and refining.
6. *Infrastructure, Logistics and Enabling Services:* Rail, port, power, and export corridors, including links to Gwadar Port.

*The program is structured into three tracks:*

– *Strategic Conference:* High-level dialogues on investment jurisdictions, financing early-stage exploration, workforce development, women’s participation in mining, and national capability development.
– *Technical Conference:* More than 50 peer-reviewed technical papers, geological survey data presentations, technology benchmarking, and a workshop on innovation potential.
– *International Exhibition:* A marketplace connecting project developers, equipment manufacturers, and technology providers. Confirmed exhibitors include Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Mari Energies, Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL), Reko Diq Mining Company, Frontier Works Organization (FWO), National Resources (Private) Limited (NRL), Barrick Mining Corporation, and others. The exhibition will also feature a European Pavilion and a Mineral Expo of rare specimens.

*SPEAKERS AND PARTICIPANTS*

Key national speakers listed include Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik is scheduled to deliver the welcome address on the opening day.

International speakers include John L. Thornton, Chairman of Barrick Mining Corporation, which is a joint venture partner in the Reko Diq project; Robert Friedland, Founder and Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines; Patrick Barnes and Wael Jaber of Wood Mackenzie, which is the lead conference producer; and Mustafa Aksoy, Chief Executive Officer of Çalık Group.

Representatives from the World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, and firms including Lazard, Milbank, and White & Case are also expected to speak. Wood Mackenzie, Milbank, White & Case and Lazard are listed as knowledge and production partners. Academic partners include the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), University of Peshawar, and engineering universities of Peshawar and Lahore.

*OFFICIAL QUOTE*

In a statement provided by organizers, Ahmed Hayat Lak, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OGDCL and President of PMIF, said:

“PMIF26 provides an important platform to connect Pakistan’s mineral potential with global investment, expertise and technology. Our country has a vast mineral resource base and a harmonized regulatory framework with investment-friendly policies. OGDC is already a joint venture partner in the Reko Diq project, and we want to expand our footprint in the minerals and mining sector through our cooperation with global partners. We look forward to welcoming policymakers and industry leaders from across the world to Islamabad to exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore new ventures.”

*STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS*

Strategic partners for the forum include PPL, Mari Energies, GHPL, Reko Diq Mining Company, Pakistan Minerals Private Limited (PMPL), and FWO.

*SIGNIFICANCE AND OUTLOOK*

The forum is seen as a test of Pakistan’s ability to convert resource potential into foreign direct investment. The Reko Diq project, with Barrick holding 50% and the governments of Pakistan and Balochistan holding the remaining 50%, is expected to start production in 2028 and is projected to generate significant export earnings.

Analysts note that challenges remain, including infrastructure deficits, security in mineral-rich regions, and the need for downstream processing capacity. The government’s emphasis on SIFC as a single-window facilitator is aimed at addressing regulatory delays.

The forum will conclude with closing remarks by Ahmed Hayat Lak.

Registration and ticketing information, including provisions for promo codes, re-sending tickets, and privacy terms, are available on the official event portal powered by LUP.